Althena is the combined continental landmass of Eastern, Central and Western Althena (also known as Alcadea), located primarily in the eastern and southern hemispheres. It covers 12% of the Adonia's total surface area (or 52% of its land area) and with approximately 2.986 billion people, it hosts 46% of the world's current human population. During the 20th century Althenian population nearly quadrupled.

Major peninsulas of Althena include Fovazh, Hedjaz, Samastra and Samaeilan peninsula, and it is bounded on the east by the Cillician Ocean, on the south by the Anacti Ocean and on the north by the Solvanese Ocean. Given its size and diversity, Althena – a toponym dating back to classical antiquity – "is more a cultural concept" incorporating diverse regions and peoples than a homogeneous physical entity. Althena differs very widely among and within its regions with regard to ethnic groups, cultures, environments, economics, historical ties and government systems.

Etymology

In the Old Gods religion and mythology, Athena or Althena (Attic: Ἀθηνᾶ, Athēnā; Ionic: Ἀλθηνᾶ, Althēnā), is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, just warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill. Minerva is the Calibrian goddess identified with Althena.

Althena had a special relationship with the Aegean Peninsula, as is shown by the etymological connection of the names of the goddess and the continent. She competed with Poseidon and won by creating the olive tree; the Aegeans accepted her gift and named everything that surrounded the Aegean Peninsula as the Althena, while she would be the goddess of the region.

Overview

Physiographically, Althena is a single continent. The concepts of Western Althena, Central Althena and Eastern Althena as distinct continents date back to antiquity and their borders are geologically arbitrary, with the Alannain Sea and the Trestä Sea being the main delimiters between the West and Centre, and the Asmiri range between the Centre and the East. The concept of a Central Althena is nowadays commonly used since the Great Adonian War, although historically, there has been usually only a Western and Eastern Althena, Central Althena being incorporated into Eastern.

In ancient times, the Sinopians classified Alcadea and Orientia as separate "lands", part of a wider "Althena". Where to draw the dividing line between the two regions is still a matter of discussion.